Umbrella of collapsible construction

ABSTRACT

The umbrella is constructed so as to collapse into a compact condition of about 6 to 8 inches in length. In the collapsed condition, the cover of the umbrella is folded up to conform to the length of the collapsed umbrella. Resilient tapes are used to form the shaft of the umbrella and to spread out the cover.

United States Patent Cohen a [451 Aug. 15, 1972 [s41 UMBRELLA 0F COLLAPSIBLE 56] References Cited CONSTRUCTION i l r UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor: Paul J. Cohen, 1655 Flatbush Ave., 2 2 2 95 5 9 2 Badovinac 35 25 Y 11210 3,171,413 3/1965 Meyer ..135/26 [22] Filed: April 9,1971 i i Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun [21] Appl' l32784 Att0mey---Kenyon& Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin F2] :LS. Cl. ..135/20, 135/25, 135/26 [57] ABSTRACT 51] nt. Cl. ..A45b 19/00, A45b 25/02 The umbrella is constructed so as to collapse into a [58] Field of Search -.l35/20 25, 26 compact condition of about 6 to 8 inches in length. In the collapsed condition, the cover of the umbrella is folded up to conform to the length of the collapsed umbrella. Resilient tapes are used to form the shaft of I the umbrella and to spread out the cover.

14 Claim, 16 Drawing Figures 25 v ,7 i j Patented Aug. 15, 1972 3,683,948

5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. x99 f (o/flew Patented Aug. 15, 1972 w 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIVVENTOR.

,Qqu COHEN Patented Aug. 15, 1972 3,683,948

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /zzsw I 28 I I rm/W9 Patented Aug. 15, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 UREIJLA OF CGLLAPSEIJE CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to an umbrella and more particularly to a collapsible umbrella.

Heretofore, various umbrella constructions have been known in which an umbrella can be collapsed upon or after closing into a compact construction. For example, in some cases, the umbrellas have been constructed with a shaft formed of telescoping sections which slide within each other and a spoked frame which folds on itself into a collapsed condition adjacent to the telescoped shaft sections. However, these umbrellas have frequently been difficult to open and close in a simple efficient manner. Furthermore, in many cases, the umbrella has been of a bulky construction even though in a collapsed condition, such that the umbrella cannot be readily transported when not in use. Also, from a standpoint of manufacturing purposes, these umbrellas have usually required an assembly procedure wherein a separately made spoked frame is secured to a separately made shaft.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a compact umbrella construction which can be carried within a pocket or purse.

It is another object of this invention to eliminate the need for a separately made spoked frame for an umbrella.

It is another object of this invention to provide an umbrella of collapsible construction which can be opened and closed in a simple efficient manner.

It is another object of this invention to provide a compact umbrella construction which is of simple con struction and of relatively low cost.

It is another object of this invention to provide a umbrella which can be stored in small places.

Briefly, the invention provides an umbrella which is constructed of a frame having a base which defines a handle, a crown which is formed so as to mate within the base in the collapsed condition of the umbrella and a plurality of tape members which are coiled at one end within the base and which extend through the crown to move outwardly of the crown when the frame is opened from a collapsed condition. The frame also includes a suitable releaseable locking means which secures the tape members in the base in a coiled state and which upon release allows the tape members to uncoil and spring out of the base.

In one embodiment, the tape members are sized to slide through passages in the crown and are provided with tabs or stops at an intermediate point which abut the crown after a certain length of the tape members are sprung out of the base so that the crown is thereafter carried along with the continued movement of the tape members. In this way, the tape members defines both an elongated shaft between the crown and the base and a spoked frame for receiving a cover of suitable shape.

In another embodiment, in order to permit the cover to be folded into a suitable length when the umbrella is in a collapsed condition, the crown of the umbrella frame is shaped so that the central portion of the cover is fixedly secured about the periphery of the crown and suitable guide means, such as a string, are secured at intermediate points of the cover and each tape member. Thus, when the tape members are retracted through the crown into the base, the ends of the guide means secured to the tape members are also pulled into the crown and base so that the intermediate portions of the cover are drawn towards the crown causing the cover to fold within itself. This decreases the overall extent of the cover in the collapsed condition.

In another embodiment, the crown is provided with a central bore, for example, of vase like cross-section and the cover is secured at the center to a retractable means such as a cord which extends downwardly into the base of the umbrella and which is wound up with the tape members as the tape members are retracted into the base. In this way, a substantial portion of the umbrella cloth can be retracted into the crown when the umbrella is collapsed while the remainder is laid in a fold along the length of the collapsed frame.

When the umbrella is collapsed the overall length of the umbrella is sized in a range of from approximately 6 inches to 8 inches while in the opened condition the cover of the umbrella extends over a radius of from approximately 18 inches to inches.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an umbrella of the invention in opened condition;

FIG. 2 illustrates the umbrella of FIG. 1 in collapsed condition;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the umbrella in collapsed condition;

FIG. 5 illustrates a fragmentary view of the umbrella in opened condition;

FIG. 6 illustrates a view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 illustrates a view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged view of a stop on a tape member;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a modified umbrella according to the invention having a bore through the crown;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the umbrella of FIG. 9 in collapsed condition;

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a retaining means for retaining the tape members in place in the base of a umbrella made according to the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a plan view of the retaining means .in a locking state;

FIG. 13 illustrates a plan view of the retaining means in a released state;

FIG. 14 illustrates a modified retaining means for retaining the tape members in the base;

FIG. 15 illustrates a fragmentary view of the retaining means of FIG. 14 in opened condition; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a fragmentary view of the retaining means of FIG. 14 in the crown 14 in a secondary locking position.

Referring to FIG. 1, the umbrella 10 is constructed with a frame 11 and a cover 12. The frame 11 is constituted by a base 13 which defines a handle for gripping of the umbrella during use, a crown 14 and a plurality of tape members 15, for example, four which extend from the base 13 through the crown 14 to the peripheral edge of the cover 12. Alternatively, any suitable number of tape members 15 can be used, for example from three to eight or more. Any suitable fastening means 15 such as a cap press fitted over the end of a tape member 15 and a piece of the cover is used to secure the cover 12 to the tape member 15.

Referring to FIG. 3, the base 13 is of substantially cylindrical contour and contains a central socket 17 for receiving a mating stem 18 on the crown 14 as well as an interior chamber 19 (cf. FIG. 7) in which a plurality of spools 20 are rotatably mounted in a suitable manner. Each spool 20 has an end of a tape member 15 wound thereon and is biased in known manner to rotate in a direction to pass the tape members 15 out of the chamber 19 through a guideway 21 communicating with the socket 17. As shown, the spools 20 are in equally spaced arrangement within the base 13 and each of the tape members 15 is of an essentially flat strip construction.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the crown 14 is also provided with a plurality of guideways 22 which extend through the stem 18 in substantially parallel fashion and which curve outwardly at the ends to extend to the outer circumferential periphery of the crown 14. Each of these guideways 22 slidably receives a tape member 15 therein and guides the tape member 15 into a flared out shape outside the crown 14 so as to form a spoked frame for receiving the cover 12 thereon.

The guideways 21, 22 in the base 13 and crown 14 are each of a curved cross-section, such as an arcuate shape, simicircular shape or U-shape (FIG. 6) to bend the tape members 15 into a similar shape so as to increase the rigidity of the tape member 15. In addition, the guideways 21, 22 are oriented in a slight angular relationship to the central vertical axis of the umbrella such that the tape members form a tapered stafi when the umbrella is opened so as to add to the rigidity of the umbrella 10.

In order to limit the movement of the tape members 15 out of the crown 14, each tape member 15 is provided at an intermediate point with a stop 23 in the form of a pin fixedly secured thereon and the guideways 22 in the crown 14 are each provided with a slot 24 along a length thereof, for example, from the stem 18 to a point within the curved out section, to permit passage of the stop 23. The end of the slot 24 serves as an abutment at a restricted portion of the guideway 22 to prevent further outward movement of a tape member 15 relative to the crown 14. The position of the stop 23, the ends of the slots'24 and the size of the cover 12 are sized with respect to each other so that when the stops 23 abut the ends of the slots 24, the cover 12 is held in a taut condition by the tape members 15.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 11 and 12, in order to maintain the tape members 15 within the base 13, a releaseable locking means 25 is mounted in the stem 18 of the crown 14. This locking means 25 includes a ring 25' which encircles the tape members 15, a double cam lever 26 pivotally mounted in the stem 18 on a shaft 26', a pin 27 mounted at the lower end of the lever 26, a link 28 pivotally connected on the ring 25 and the upper end of the lever 26 by pivots 28' and a spring 29 which biases the lever 26 counterclockwise, as shown. The ring 25 carries a plurality of cams 30, e.g., of triangular shape which are sized to fit into mating recesses or notches 31 in the respective tape members 15 so as to lock the tape members 15 in place when the umbrella is closed. The lower pin 27 is sized to project out of the stem 18 into a recess 30' formed in the base 13 so as to lock the crown 14 in the base 13 when the umbrella 10 is closed. The recesses 31 are positioned in the tape members 15 points closer to the free ends than the stops 23 so that the tape members 15 are locked in the ring 25' when the fastening means 16 on the free ends abut the crown 14.

In order to actuate the locking means 25, a push button 32 is mounted in the base 13 in alignment with the lower pin 27 and is biased by a spring 33 outwardly on the base 13. The button 32 is sized so as to press against the pin 27 and move the pin 27 out of the recess 30' so that the lever 26 is caused to pivot. This, in turn, rotates the ring 25 via link 28 and moves the cams 30 out of the recesses 31 (FIG. 13) so that the tape members 15 can spring out of the base 13 under the biasing force of the spools 20.

Referring to FIG. 4, a release pin 50 is mounted within a recess in the lower end of the crown stem 18 and is biased outwardly thereof against a shoulder 51 by a suitable spring 52. This release pin 50 is sized to project into a mating depression 53 in the base 13 so as to retain the crown 14 in the base 13 after the pin 27 has been moved inwardly by the push button 32. The force of the spring 52 is such as to be overcome by the force of the tape members 15 when the stops 23 on the tape members 15 abut the ends of the slots 24 in the crown. The release pin 50 thus serves to hold the crown 14 in the base 13 until the tape members 15 have been fully extended out of the crown 14. Thereafter, the crown 14 can be carried out of the base 13 by the tape members 15.

In the collapsed condition of the umbrella 10 as shown in FIG. 4, the tape members 15 extend upwardly through the crown l4 and the free ends terminate at a point immediately outside the periphery of the crown 14. in order to prevent the tape members 15 from being retracted into the crown 14, the ends of each tape member 15 is slit along two lines with a pair of side tabs 15' being folded perpendicularly to the remainder of the member 15 to act as a stop. The remainder of the tape member end serves to receive the fastening means 16 in a suitable manner.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cover 12 has a central opening 34 which fits around the crown 14 while a suitable means such as a locking ring 35 fits over the inner periphery of the cover 12 and into an annular groove 36 in the crown 14 to secure the cover 12 to the crown 14. In addition, a guide means such as a string 37 is secured at its ends to an intermediate point of each tape member 15 and at an intermediate point of the cover in order to guide the cover 12 into a folded condition when the umbrella 10 is closed. For example, one end of each string 37 is secured to the stop 23 on a tape member 15 so that the string 37 is retracted along with the respective tape member 15 into the base 14 of the umbrella 10 during closing of the umbrella 10. This allows the intermediate portion of the cover 12 to be drawn towards the crown 14 along with the peripheral end so that the cover 12 is folded within itself. Alternatively, instead of using a string, an elastic string (not shown) can be used which would stretch to permit the cover 12 to be moved between the closed and opened positions. The points at which each string 37 is secured to each tape member 15 and the cover 12 are selected Referring to FiG. 2, when the umbrella 11) is in the collapsed position, a suitable means as is known such as a strap 33 is passed around the folded cover 12 to secure the cover 12 in place about the base 13.

In operation, in order to open the umbrella from the collapsed condition (FIG. 2) the strap 38 surroundcover 12 is made of any suitable material such as a cloth, plastic or other material.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, wherein like numbers have been used to indicate like parts as above, the uming the cover 12 is first released in the usual fashion.

24 in the guideways 22 of the crown 14. At the same time, the cover 12 is opened from the folded position into the opened position as shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, as the tape members 15 overcome the locking force of the release pin 56 and continue to run out of the base 13, the crown 14 is carried along away from the base 13 until the umbrella reaches the fully opened position (FIG. 1). As shown, the portions of the tape members 15 outside the crown 14 are curved downwardly due to the influence of the curved end portions of the guideways 22 in the crown 14.

Once the umbrella 10 is in the open position, reliance is made on the spring force on the tape members 15 to maintain the open position as well as on the splayed out configuration of the tape members 15, especially against forces imposed on the outer surface of the cover 12.

In order to close the umbrella 10, the base 13 is pulled away from the crown 14 until the earns 30 on the ring 25 of the locking means 25 are each snapped into place in the recess 31 of the respective tape member 15. During this time, the strings 37 secured to the tape members 15 are also retracted through the crown 14 while the cover 12 is folded on itself. Once the locking means 25 is secured to the tape members 15, the base 13 and crown 14 are pushed towards each other. This permits the tape members 15 to wind up on the respective spools into the coiled condition. As the stem 18 of the crown 14 fits into the recess 17 on the base 13, the release pin 50 enters the depression 53 and lower pin 27 of the locking means snaps into place within the recess of the base 13 so as to lock the crown 14 to the base 13. In this respect, it is noted that the amount of movement required of the lever 26 while the lower pin passes over surface C during locking of the lower pin 27 within the recess 30' of the base 13 is less than the movement required to release the earns 30 of the ring 25 from the recesses 31 in the tape members 15. This prevents inadvertant release of the tape members 15.

In order to facilitate the uncoiling and to enchance the rigidity of the tape members 15 from the base 13, each tape member 15 is made of a relatively stiff resilient material such as spring steel or a suitable plastic material. In addition, the edges of the tape members 15 can be rounded so as to avoid sharp comers. In addition, the base 13 and crown 14 are made of any suitable materials, such as plastic, which can be made into the required construction and which can facilitate sliding of the tape members therethrough. Also, the

brella 40 is constructed so that a central portion 41 of the cover 42 is retractable within the crown 43. To this end, the crown 43 is provided with a central bore 44 extending completely therethrough, for example, of vaselike shape. In addition, one or more strings 45 or elastic cords are secured at one end to the center of the cover 42 and at the opposite ends to one or more spools 20. As a result, as the umbrella 40 is collapsed from the open position (FIG. 9) into the closed position (FIG. 10) the string 45 is wound up on the spool 20 along with the tape member 15 adjacent thereto. This causes the center of the cover 42 to be drawn into the bore 44 of the crown 43. At the same time, the peripheral edge of the cover 42 is drawn towards the crown 43 so that the cover 42 forms a loop outside of the crown 43. This loop is held in place by a strap as described above.

Referring to FIG. 8, instead of using a stoppin on the tape members 15, each tape member 15 can be provided with a pair of tabs 46 and the guideways 27 can have a restricted portion at the end which abuts the tabs 46 to prevent further passage.

Referring to FIG. 14, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts as above, the releaseable locking means 60 can alternatively utilize a plurality of locking earns 61 which are in the form. of buttons slidably mounted on suitable stub shafts 62 extending radially inwardly from the ring 25'. Each cam 61 is further biased by a spring 63 to move radially inwardly of the ring 25' so as to project into an aperture 64 in a tape member 15. The surface of each locking cam 61 and the mating surface of the respective tape member 15 about the aperture 64 are such as to permit the locking cam 61 to press against and compress the spring 63 upon movement of the locking cam 61 against the tape member 15 upon rotation of the locking ring 25'.

In use, as shown in FIG. 14, the: locking earns 61 are initially in a locking position withinthe apertures 64 of the tape members 15. Upon rotation of the locking ring 25' via the pin 27, earn lever 26 and link 28, the locking cams 61 are caused to move out of the apertures 64 and slide across the tape members 15 to positions astride the tape members 15 (FIG. 15). When the locking cams 61 leave the apertures 64, the tape members 15, as above described, run out of the base of the umbrella through the crown.

The amount of run-out of the tape members 15 can be controlled, as above, by means of a pin (cf. 23 in FIG. 3) or by tabs (cf. 46 in FIG. 8) or by allowing the tape members 15 to run freely out of the base without any positive stop other than the limit imposed by the fixing of the end of the tape members on the spools 20. Alternatively, the run-out can be controlled by forming a second aperture 65 (FIG. 16) in each tape member 15 to. receive the .locking cams 61 after a predetermined run-out of the tape members is achieved. These second apertures 65 can be of larger size than the apertures 64 used in locking the tape members 15 in the umbrella base. Thus, the locking means 60 can serve not only to lock the tape members 15 in the base but also to lock the tape members 15 to the crown 14 when the umbrella is opened. Further, when the umbrella is to be closed, the pin 27 is depressed so as to release the locking cams 61 from within the tape members 15. The crown 14 can then be slid out along the tape members 15 until the locking cams 61 are received in the apertures 64. Thereafter, as above, the crown 14 is returned into the base.

The invention thus provides an umbrella which can be collapsed into a very compact configuration. For example, the umbrella is collapsible into an overall length of from 6 to 8 inches from an opened length of from 12 inches to 36 inches. In addition, the umbrella can be easily opened in a simple one step operation so as to provide an adequate area of cover for protection against the elements. For example, the extent of the cover along the path of the tape member can be in the range of from. 18 to 36 inches.

The umbrella can also be used with a short shaft. That is, the crown can be retained in the base with the tape members splayed out in opened condition to provide a shaft of about 6 inches. However, the crown would be releaseable from the base, e.g., manually, so as to permit the tape members to be retracted into the base in a manner as described above.

The invention further provides an umbrella which can be assembled in a simple operation with relatively few parts. In addition, the frame of the umbrella can be manufactured separate from the cover so that the cover can be applied to the frame in any subsequent operatron.

It is further noted that the base of the umbrella provides a handle of suitable length so that the umbrella can be easily manipulated in the opened condition. In addition, the length of the tape members from the base to the crown is of a suitable length and rigidity to permit ease of handling during use.

It is also noted that the umbrella construction can be utilized with'a long shaft, for example, for use as a beach umbrella. In the event that the tape members cannot provide the extended length necessary to such a use, the base can be sized and contoured so as to cooperate with a shaft-like element having, for example, a recess at one end to receive the base of the umbrella. This shaft-like element can then be used as the lower end of the beach umbrella shaft.

What is claimed is:

1. An umbrella comprising a base defining a handle;

a crown;

a plurality of tape members connecting said crown to said base between a closed position and an open position, each said tape member having a coiled end section disposed in said base in said closed position and an opposite end passing through said crown, each said tape member being of resilient material, said coiled end section thereof biases said tape member outwardly of said base;

releaseable locking means securing said coiled end sections of said tape members in said base in said closed position; and

a cover having an outer periphery secured to said tape members at said opposite end to lie in a collapsed condition in said closed position and to lie in an extended condition in said open position.

2. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein each tape member is slidably received within said crown and includes a stop thereon for abutting said crown upon movement out of said base to move said crown from said base into said open position.

3. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said crown has a plurality of guideways extending therethrough, each guideway including a restricted portion at one end thereof and wherein each tape member is slidably received within a respective one of said guideways and includes a stop thereon slidably disposed in said passage for abutment against said restricted portion therein.

4. An umbrella as set forth in claim 3 wherein said passages are curvilinear in shape and diverge from each other at the outer ends.

5. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said crown includes a central bore and which further includes means connected to a central part of said cover for retracting said part into said bore upon collapsing into said closed position.

- 6. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means connected between each tape member and said cover for folding said cover upon collapsing into said closed position.

7. An umbrella as set forth in claim 6 wherein said latter means is a string connected at one end to an intermediate point of said tape member and at an opposite end to an intermediate part of said cover.

8. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tape members are each of flat strip shape.

9. An umbrella as set forth in claim. 9 wherein said crown has a plurality of guideways extending therethrough, each guideway being curved for bending a respective tape member passing therethrough into a curved cross-sectional shape.

10. An umbrella frame comprising a base defining a handle;

a crown; I a plurality of tape members connecting said crown to said base between a closed position and an open position, each said tape member having a coiled end section disposed in said base in said closed position and an opposite end passing through said crown, means mounting each tape member in said base for biasing of said member outwardly of said base; and

releaseable locking means securing said coiled end sections of said tape members in said base in said closed position.

1 1. An umbrella as set forth in claim 10 wherein each said tape member is slidably received within said crown and includes a stop thereon for abutting said crown upon movement out of said base to move said crown from said base into said open position.

12. An umbrella as set forth in claim 10 wherein said crown has a plurality of guideways extending therethrough, each guideway including a restricted portion at one end thereof and wherein each tape member is slidably received within a respective one of said guideways and includes a stop thereon slidably disposed in said passage for abutment against said restricted portion therein.

13. An umbrella comprising a base;

a crown;

a plurality of tape members, each said tape'member having a coiled end section disposed in saidbase and an opposite end passing through and slidably received within said crown, each said tape member being of resilient material, said coiled end section thereof biases said tape member outwardly of said base and radially outwardly of said crown;

releaseable locking means securing said coiled end sections of said tape members in said base in said closed position; and

means for directing movement of each said tape UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION v Patent No. 3 ,683,9 ;8 Dated August 15.. 1972 Inventor( Paul J Cohen It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 68, "16" should be --1 5---.

Column 3, line 28, "simicircular" should be --semicircular--;

Column 5', line 58, "enchance" should be --enhance-- Column 8, line 32 "9" should be --l---.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of January 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM FO-1050(1069) USCOMM DC 603164 69 0 US. GOVERNMENT FRINTING OFFICE: 1959 O 356334 

1. An umbrella comprising a base defining a handle; a crown; a plurality of tape members connecting said crown to said base between a closed position and an open position, each said tape member having a coiled end section disposed in said base in said closed position and an opposite end passing through said crown, each said tape member being of resilient material, said coiled end section thereof biases said tape member outwardly of said base; releaseable locking means securing said coiled end sections of said tape members in said base in said closed position; and a cover having an outer periphery secured to said tape members at said opposite end to lie in a collapsed condition in said closed position and to lie in an extended condition in said open position.
 2. An umbRella as set forth in claim 1 wherein each tape member is slidably received within said crown and includes a stop thereon for abutting said crown upon movement out of said base to move said crown from said base into said open position.
 3. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said crown has a plurality of guideways extending therethrough, each guideway including a restricted portion at one end thereof and wherein each tape member is slidably received within a respective one of said guideways and includes a stop thereon slidably disposed in said passage for abutment against said restricted portion therein.
 4. An umbrella as set forth in claim 3 wherein said passages are curvilinear in shape and diverge from each other at the outer ends.
 5. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said crown includes a central bore and which further includes means connected to a central part of said cover for retracting said part into said bore upon collapsing into said closed position.
 6. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means connected between each tape member and said cover for folding said cover upon collapsing into said closed position.
 7. An umbrella as set forth in claim 6 wherein said latter means is a string connected at one end to an intermediate point of said tape member and at an opposite end to an intermediate part of said cover.
 8. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tape members are each of flat strip shape.
 9. An umbrella as set forth in claim 9 wherein said crown has a plurality of guideways extending therethrough, each guideway being curved for bending a respective tape member passing therethrough into a curved cross-sectional shape.
 10. An umbrella frame comprising a base defining a handle; a crown; a plurality of tape members connecting said crown to said base between a closed position and an open position, each said tape member having a coiled end section disposed in said base in said closed position and an opposite end passing through said crown, means mounting each tape member in said base for biasing of said member outwardly of said base; and releaseable locking means securing said coiled end sections of said tape members in said base in said closed position.
 11. An umbrella as set forth in claim 10 wherein each said tape member is slidably received within said crown and includes a stop thereon for abutting said crown upon movement out of said base to move said crown from said base into said open position.
 12. An umbrella as set forth in claim 10 wherein said crown has a plurality of guideways extending therethrough, each guideway including a restricted portion at one end thereof and wherein each tape member is slidably received within a respective one of said guideways and includes a stop thereon slidably disposed in said passage for abutment against said restricted portion therein.
 13. An umbrella comprising a base; a crown; a plurality of tape members, each said tape member having a coiled end section disposed in said base and an opposite end passing through and slidably received within said crown, each said tape member being of resilient material, said coiled end section thereof biases said tape member outwardly of said base and radially outwardly of said crown; releaseable locking means securing said coiled end sections of said tape members in said base in said closed position; and means for directing movement of each said tape member out of said crown.
 14. An umbrella as set forth in claim 13 which further comprises a cover having an outer periphery secured to each said tape members at said opposite end, said cover being in a collapsed folded condition with said tape members being disposed in a coiled condition within said base and being in an extended condition relative to said crown with said tape members radiating from said crown. 